Would you like to save a little puppy from the local pound? Or are you are interested in purchasing a breeder? Whether you are looking for a regular house dog or a show dog, you will add hours of enjoyment to your life when you get a pooch. You will also have tons of responsibilities, so read on to find out how to get it done.
Make your home dog-proof. Take the time to tour your home with an eye for safety before you introduce your dog to your home. Make sure chemicals, medications and any garbage is out of reach of the dog. Some very common plants are quite toxic to animals, so always make sure they are out of reach.
Do not buy the cheapest dog a particular brand of food just because it is cheap. Cheap dog food contains lots of preservatives and additives that can be bad for health. Check with animal advocacy groups or consumer reviews to find the best dog foods you should be feeding your dog. Your dog can really benefit from better health when he has high quality food.
Your dog needs a dog house if he or she has to remain outside in colder temperatures. If his feet are wet, it will stress him and lead to health problems. Keep your dog safe by providing him shelter.
If you decide to take your dog with you on a trip, take a photo of him on your phone. If they’re separated from you, then you’ll have a current photo that you can easily access and show others or to download for “lost” flyers.
Take the time and correct bad behavior in your dog at the first sign of it. Your dog might hurt someone else, including you, so keep him under control.
Make sure that your dog’s nails are trimmed nails. If the dog’s nails curl under, you dog could experience quite a bit of pain. You can do this yourself using a pair of dog clippers from the store. If you can’t do it by yourself, a pet groomer will usually do it at a low cost.
Practice training your dog in your house or yard. Don’t train them in any areas full of people. It will be very distracting for your pup.
Schedule a vet appointment for your new dog with your local veterinarian. The veterinarian will do a complete health check and set up a vaccination schedule. You should also want to check with the vet about fixing your dog if you will not be breeding him.
Follow through according to your vet’s suggestions if the dog needs something special or has medication. Your dog won’t like a cone, but the vet prescribed it for good reason.
Ask your vet the amount of food your dog needs daily. While there are those that feed their dog whatever it says on the package, this may not be good for your dog and can make it overweight. Therefore, ask your vet the acceptable amount of dog food your dog needs to ensure its health and well-being.
Some dogs are more prone to problems than others and you should know what to look out for in your dog. Research the heritage of dog you have and see if there are any common problems.
Everyone will have a different way of trying to teach the dog something, and too many commanders may confuse your dog.
Correct your dog’s bad behavior immediately. If you ignore it, it will be hard to contain it later. Your dog could hurt somebody, including you, so keep him under control.
Make sure that you are keeping up with your dog’s annual check-up appointments. Annual exams can spare lots of money later for owners and keep them from suffering now.
You might feel the urge to feed your own snacks with your dog. Some foods are fine to give, but there are foods that can be hazardous to a dog’s health. Dogs should never be given caffeine, chocolate and anything with caffeine, or chocolate. They can make you dog and could even cause death if enough is ingested.
Follow through according to your vet’s suggestions if your dog needs something special or has medicine. He might not want to wear that cone on his neck and head, but it’s there for a real reason! If your veterinarian recommends something, it’s because it’s what’s best for your dog. If you ignore recommendations, your dog could have some major health issues.
It is essential that you think long and hard before you do this in your life. There are a lot of ways you can do this and it’s too simple to fall for a puppy dog face. Consider everything beforehand so that you know you have taken care of everything.
You should now know what taking care of a dog entails, so get ready to take that purebred or mutt home! Use online resources, which change fairly frequently, to learn as much as you can about dog ownership. Think about joining online forums to talk about dogs with other dog owners. Learning goes on for your entire life, so embrace the process.
Annual vet check-ups are important. Having the annual exam is the only way to diagnose problems that arise. Yearly physical exams can save money down the line and save the dog from suffering unnecessarily.